SC Derbi Secures Psychological Boost with First Win of the Season

SC Derbi achieved a significant victory against Split, marking their first win of the season, including qualifications for the FIBA Champions League. Despite missing key players, including starters Darius Johnson and Justin Turner, due to injuries, the team demonstrated resilience and tactical skill throughout the match.

From the outset, SC Derbi led for nearly the entire game, establishing a substantial advantage early on. In the first quarter, they surged ahead by as many as 11 points, closing the quarter at 26-15. The team maintained a 17-point lead on three occasions in the third quarter, with scores of 64-47, 66-49, and 71-54. However, they faced challenges in the second quarter, resulting in a halftime tie at 45-45, and in the fourth quarter, Split threatened a comeback, narrowing the gap to just four points at 76-72 and 81-77.

Reflecting on the performance, Petar Mijović, head coach of SC Derbi, emphasized the importance of this victory, especially after two previous losses in similar matches. “This was an extremely tough win. We had periods of excellent play, achieving a 17-point lead three times. Yet, we also encountered inexplicable drops in performance, mainly stemming from defensive softness in critical situations and errors in adapting to the increased aggression from our opponents,” Mijović explained.

In comparison to their first two matches in the ABA League, SC Derbi improved their shooting percentages significantly. They recorded a remarkable 62.9% shooting accuracy for two-point attempts and 87.5% from the free-throw line. Additionally, the team secured four more rebounds than in their previous matches, totaling 32, and achieved 21 assists, surpassing their totals against Borac and FMP.

Mijović noted the psychological impact of the win, stating, “This victory is extremely important from a psychological standpoint. We are genuinely facing challenges, as no team thrives without two primary playmakers—without a starter at the point guard position, Johnson, and another starter at shooting guard, Turner.”

While the victory brought joy to the SC Derbi squad, it was overshadowed by the injury to Amar Gegić, who left the game with just under four minutes remaining. Gegić had an impressive performance, contributing 20 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Mijović commented on Gegić’s condition, indicating, “It doesn’t look good; we will see after further analysis what the issue is.”

Looking ahead, SC Derbi is set to face Igokea on October 26, 2023, as they aim to build on this crucial win and continue their season with renewed confidence.